Don Lockerbie, who served as a venue design manager and a senior consultant for the 1994 soccer World Cup in the United States, has been appointed the first chief executive of the US Cricket Association, it was announced here Monday.

Lockerbie, one of more than 40 applicants from the US and cricket playing countries, will begin his new job on April 1.

"I am familiar with the working nature of cricket on the international landscape and I look forward to utilizing this experience to be a new and proactive resource for American cricket and our dedicated cricketers," he said.

Lockerbie is president of a sports facility and operations consulting firm with offices in the US, Switzerland and the West Indies.

He has a history with cricket and was chief operating officer and venue development director of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 in the Caribbean.

Lockerbie has two immediate projects: To unify the fragmented US cricket leagues and raise money to help improve conditions and fields for players.

USACA president Gladstone Dainty said: "Don brings a robust dynamism to USACA at a time when it is urgently needed. His proven track record is exactly what's required to attract interest and support for the development of cricket in America."

In the 1970's, Lockerbie competed in track and field at college, national, and international levels and later was head track and field coach at the University of North Carolina.

Between 1991 and 1994, Lockerbie was involved in the 1994 soccer World Cup, which was hosted by the US. He was responsible for planning and construction at Giants Stadium where seven games were played and was also in charge of Turfgrass construction and maintenance for all nine World Cup venues.

He had similar duties as a consultant to the Venue Planning Department for the Olympic Games in Atlanta. His team was retained to plan and oversee the construction and preparations for the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York. He also provided consulting services for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.